Phorbol diesters, potent activators of protein kinase C, can produce a slow contraction in arterial smooth muscle. Such observations have prompted proposals that protein kinase C may have direct regulatory functions in contraction. In this paper, we present evidence that [Ca2+]-dependent myosin light chain phosphorylation is responsible for the contraction induced by low-dose phorbol diester and during force development in response to high-dose phorbol diester stimulation. The relationships between myoplasmic [Ca2+], myosin phosphorylation, and steady-state stress induced by low-dose phorbol dibutyrate were similar to those observed with contractile agonists. However, prolonged exposure to high-dose phorbol dibutyrate induced high stress with elevated phosphorylation that was not associated with elevations in aequorin-estimated [Ca2+]. Our results suggest that phorbol diesters can increase myoplasmic [Ca2+], and the resulting increase in myosin phosphorylation quantitatively explains the contraction.